ENERGY STAR® Home Sealing

Specification

October 16, 2001

Version 1.0

ENERGY STAR® Home Sealing Specification

Scope:

This ENERGY STAR residential envelope retrofit specification covers the requirements for insulation, air infiltration, and windows in existing homes.

(a) Insulation levels are specified for wall, ceiling, and floors based on climate and type of heating source.

(b) Air infiltration levels are specified based on house measurement and calculations to approximate natural ventilation.

(c) Windows must meet ENERGY STAR labeling criteria.

The intent of this ENERGY STAR program is to encourage consumers to increase the energy efficiency of the building envelope in existing homes. This program is primarily intended for residential one- and two-family dwellings.

Definitions:

Air-Sealing - The process of reducing the air leakage (infiltration and exfiltration) of a building.

Air Changes per Hour (ACH) - The air within a building exchanged with the outdoor air through leakage and ventilation expressed as a percent of the total volume of air in the building.

ACH50 - The air changes per hour in a building, induced by a 50 Pascal pressure from blower door

operation.

ACHnat - The natural air changes per hour in a building, as calculated by dividing ACH LBL Factor.

50 by the

Infiltration/Exfiltration - Infiltration is the flow of air into a building. Exfiltration is the flow of air out of a building.

Insulation - Any material which is always marketed and sold as a product primarily used to slow down heat flow within a building structure. For purposes of this specification, Insulation shall be defined to include only those products whose insulating capacities (i.e., R-values) have been tested according to the test procedures outlined in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Trade Regulation Rule on Labeling and Advertising of Home Insulation, Title 16 CFR Part 460.

LBL Factor - A factor based on climate region, number of stories of a building, and sheltering from wind which is used to convert to estimated air changes in a building by natural means, without a fan.

R-value - A measure signifying a material’s ability to resist the flow of heat. The higher the number, the higher the resistence, and the greater the insulation. FTC Home Insulation Rule 460 requires contractors and sellers of new homes to give buyers a receipt showing the coverage area, thickness, and R-value of the insulation installed.

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Specification:

EPA ENERGY STAR Home Sealing specification addresses insulation, infiltration, the suitability of windows, ventilation, and combustion safety.

Insulation

Insulation R-value must meet recommends levels in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Insulation Fact Sheet tables (attached or available electronically at http://www.ornl.gov/roofs+walls/insulation/ .) Note that these are based are both climate region and type of heating equipment.

While not required, if siding is being removed for another reason, in some climate zones the use of additional rigid exterior insulation is recommended, as discussed in the Insulation Fact Sheet.

Infiltration Natural Air Changes per Hour (ACHnat) shall be less than or equal to .50 Air Changes per Hour

ACH 50

(ACH50), where, ACHnat = LBL Factor

. ACH50 shall be determined by a blower door test

in accordance with ASTM Standard E779-87, “Test Method for Determining Air Leakage by Fan Pressurization”, ASTM Book of Standards, American Society of Testing and Materials, or CGSB Standard 149, “Determination of the Airtightness of Building Envelopes by Fan Depressurization Method, Canadian General Standards Board”, 1986. The LBL Factor is based on climate region, number of stories, and sheltering from wind

and can be determined from the table in Appendix 1.

The home shall meet minimum ventilation requirements of ASHRAE 62-1999, “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality”. (.35 ACH by natural or mechanical ventilation)

The combustion safety of combustion appliances shall be verified. (ASTM Standard E1998-99, “Standard Guide for Assessing Depressurization-Induced Backdrafting and Spillage from Vented Combustion Appliances”; Section H of the National Fuel Gas Code (ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54); or Canada General Standards Board- 51.71-95, “The Spillage Test Method to Determine The Potential for Pressure Induced Spillage from Vented, Fuel-fired, Space Heating Appliances, Water Heaters and Fireplaces”) Exception: “Sealed combustion” appliances, which draw their combustion air from outdoors and exhaust combustion products directly outdoors, with no connection because combustion air and the indoors, do not have to be tested.

Windows

80% of the windows in the home must meet or exceed the ENERGY STAR Windows criteria for the home’s climate region. In Southern (mostly cooling) climates, non-ENERGY STAR windows are permitted only on the north side of the home or in locations with permanent shading.

Certification

Service providers shall certify that the home improvement measures have met the required safety and performance tests and that the FTC Home Insulation Rule 460 receipt requirements have been satisfied.

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APPENDIX: Insulation Tables and LBL Conversion Factor Table

Table 1: Zip Codes and Corresponding Insulation Zones [For use with recommendations in Table 2]

Data from Dept. of Energy Insulation Fact Sheet, DOE/CE-0180, August 1997 * For Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, the Insulation Zone is 1

073 6 164 9 246 9 328 3 417 5 502 9 599 8 689 7 782 3 879 4 976 7 If Your Zip 074 6 165 9 247 7 329 3 418 5 503 9 690 7 783 3 880 3 977 7 Code Begins With These Three Numbers

Your Insulation Zone Is:

075 6 076 6 077 6 078 8 079 8 080 6

166 167 168 169 170 171

9 9 8 9 8 8

248 249 250 251 252 253

7 7 7 7 7 7

330 331 332 333 334 335

3 3 3 3 3 3

420 421 422 423 424 425

5 5 5 5 5 5

504 505 506 507 508 510

9 9 9 9 9 9

600 600 8 601 8 602 6

691 9 692 9 693 9

700

784 3 785 3 786 4 787 4 788 3 789 3

881 6 882 3 883 6 884 4 890 7 891 4

978 979 980 981 982 983

5 5 5 5 5 5

081 6 172 8 254 7 336 3 426 5 511 9 603 6 790 5 893 9 984 5

010 6 082 6 083 6

173 174

8 8

255 256

7 7

337 338

3 3

427 430

5 8

512 513

9 9

604 6 605 6

700 3 701 3

791 5 792 5

894 8 895 8

985 986

5 5

011 6 084 6 085 6

175 176

8 8

257 258

7 7

339 342

3 3

431 432

8 8

514 515

9 8

606 6 607 6

703 3 704 3

793 5 794 5

896 8 897 7

988 989

5 5

012 8 086 6 087 6

177 178

8 8

259 260

7 7 344 3

433 434

8 8

516 520

8 9

609 6 610 8

705 3 706 3

795 4 796 4

898 9 990 991

7 7

013 8 088 6 089 6

179 180

8 8

261 262

7 7

346 347

3 3

435 436

8 8

521 522

9 9

611 8 612 6

707 3 708 3

797 4 798 4 900 992

993 7 5

014 015

8 8 100

181 182 183 184

8 9 8 8

263 264 265 266

7 7 7 7

349 350 351 352

3 5 5 5

437 438 439 440

8 8 8 8

523 524 525 526

9 9 8 8

613 6 614 6 615 6 616 6

710 4 711 4 712 4 713 4

799 4

800 900 1 901 1 902 1

994 995 996 997

5 6 6 6

016 8 100 8 185 8 267 7 354 5 441 8 527 8 617 6 714 4 903 1 998 6

101 8 186 8 268 7 355 7 442 8 528 8 618 6 716 4 800 6 904 1 999 2

017 8 102 8 187 8 270 7 356 7 443 8 530 8 619 6 717 4 801 6 905 1 103 8 188 9 271 7 357 7 444 8 531 8 620 6 718 5 802 6 906 3

018 8 104 8 189 8 272 8 358 7 445 8 532 8 622 6 719 4 803 6 907 1 105 8 190 8 273 8 359 7 446 8 533 8 623 6 720 5 804 9 908 1

019 6 106 8 191 8 274 8 360 5 447 8 534 8 624 6 721 5 805 6 910 2 107 8 193 8 275 7 361 5 448 8 535 8 625 6 722 5 806 6 911 2 108 8 194 8 276 7 362 5 449 8 536 8 626 6 723 5 807 6 912 2 109 9 195 8 277 7 363 4 450 5 537 8 627 6 724 5 808 6 913 2 110 8 196 8 278 7 364 4 451 5 538 8 628 6 725 5 809 6 914 2

020 6 111 8 197 7 279 7 365 4 452 5 539 8 629 6 726 5 810 6 915 2

021 6 112 8 198 7 280 7 366 4 453 8 540 8 630 7 727 7 811 8 916 2

022 6 113 8 199 7 281 7 367 4 454 8 541 8 631 7 728 5 812 9 917 3

023 6 114 8 282 7 368 5 455 8 542 8 633 7 729 5 813 6 918 2

024 6 115 8 283 7 369 5 456 5 543 8 634 7 730 5 814 6 919 1

025 8 116 8 200 284 5 370 5 457 7 544 8 635 7 731 5 815 6 920 1

026 6 117 8 285 7 371 5 458 8 545 9 636 7 734 4 816 6 921 1

027 6 118 8 200 7 286 8 372 5 460 7 546 8 637 5 735 5 820 9 922 4

028 8 119 8 201 7 287 9 373 5 461 7 547 8 638 5 736 5 821 9 923 3

029 8 120 9 202 7 288 9 374 5 462 7 548 9 639 5 737 7 822 8 924 3

030 9 121 9 203 7 289 9 376 5 463 8 549 8 640 7 738 8 823 9 925 3

031 9 122 9 204 7 290 5 377 5 464 8 550 8 641 7 739 7 824 9 926 1

032 9 123 9 205 7 291 5 378 5 465 8 551 8 644 7 740 5 825 9 927 1

033 9 124 9 206 8 292 5 379 5 466 8 553 8 645 7 741 5 826 9 928 1

034 9 125 9 207 8 293 5 380 5 467 8 554 8 646 7 743 7 827 9 930 1

035 9 126 9 208 8 294 4 381 5 468 8 556 8 647 7 744 5 828 9 931 2

036 9 127 9 209 8 295 5 382 5 469 8 557 8 648 5 745 5 829 9 932 3

037 9 128 9 210 8 296 5 383 5 470 5 558 8 650 7 746 8 830 9 933 3

038 9 129 9 211 8 297 5 384 5 471 5 559 8 651 7 747 5 831 9 934 2

039 9 130 9 212 8 298 4 385 7 472 5 560 8 652 7 748 5 832 7 935 3

040 9 131 9 213 8 299 4 386 5 473 8 561 8 653 7 749 5 833 5 936 3

041 9 132 9 214 8 387 4 474 5 562 8 654 7 750 4 834 8 937 3

042 9 133 9 215 9 388 4 475 5 563 8 655 7 751 4 835 5 939 3

043 9 134 9 216 8 300 389 4 476 5 564 8 656 7 752 4 836 5 940 3

044 9 135 9 217 9 390 4 477 5 565 8 657 7 753 4 837 5 941 3

045 9 136 9 218 7 300 5 391 4 478 5 566 8 658 7 754 4 838 5 942 4

046 9 137 9 219 9 301 5 392 4 479 8 567 8 660 7 755 4 840 6 943 2

047 9 138 9 220 8 302 5 393 4 480 6 570 9 661 7 756 4 841 6 944 2

048 9 139 9 221 8 303 5 394 3 481 6 571 9 662 7 757 4 843 6 945 3

049 9 140 9 222 8 304 4 395 3 482 6 572 9 664 7 758 4 844 6 946 2

050 9 141 9 223 8 305 5 396 3 483 6 573 9 665 7 759 3 845 6 947 3

051 9 142 9 224 8 306 5 397 4 484 8 574 9 666 7 760 4 846 6 948 2

052 9 143 9 225 8 307 5 485 8 575 9 667 5 761 4 847 6 949 2

053 9 144 9 226 9 308 5 486 8 576 9 668 7 762 4 850 4 950 3

054 9 145 9 227 8 309 5 400 487 8 577 9 669 8 763 4 851 4 951 1

055 9 146 9 228 9 310 4 488 8 580 9 670 5 764 4 852 4 952 3

056 9 147 9 229 8 311 4 400 5 489 8 581 9 671 5 765 4 853 4 953 3

057 9 148 9 230 8 312 4 401 5 490 6 582 9 672 5 766 4 855 4 954 3

058 9 149 9 231 8 313 4 402 5 491 6 583 9 673 5 767 4 856 4 955 6

059 9 150 8 232 8 314 4 403 5 492 6 584 9 674 7 768 4 857 4 956 4

060 9 151 8 233 7 315 4 404 5 493 8 585 9 675 5 769 4 859 4 957 6

061 9 152 8 234 7 316 3 405 5 494 8 586 9 676 8 770 3 860 9 958 3

062 9 153 8 235 7 317 4 406 5 495 8 587 9 677 8 771 3 863 8 959 3

063 9 154 8 236 7 318 4 407 5 496 8 588 9 678 7 772 3 864 5 960 3

064 9 155 8 237 7 319 4 408 5 497 8 590 8 679 5 773 3 865 9 961 6

065 9 156 9 238 7 320 4 409 5 498 8 591 8 680 7 774 3 870 6 967 2

066 8 157 8 239 7 321 4 410 7 499 8 592 8 681 7 775 3 871 6 968 3

067 9 158 9 240 8 322 4 411 5 593 8 683 7 776 3 872 6 970 5

068 9 159 8 241 8 323 5 412 5 594 8 684 7 777 3 873 6 971 5

069 9 160 8 242 7 324 4 413 7 500 595 8 685 7 778 3 874 6 972 5

070 6 161 8 243 9 325 4 414 7 596 8 686 7 779 3 875 8 973 5

071 6 162 9 244 9 326 3 415 5 500 9 597 8 687 9 780 4 877 6 974 5

072 6 163 8 245 8 327 3 416 5 501 9 598 8 688 7 781 3 878 6 975 5

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Table 2: Insulation Groups for Each Insulation Zone for Six Heating System Types in Existing Houses

[Use with Table 3 to Determine Recommended Insulation Levels a]

Insulation Zone

Gas Heat

Electric Furnace

Electric Baseboard b

Heat Pump

LPG Fuel Oil

1 E1 E4 E3 E3 E2 E2

2 E2 E4 E4 E3 E2 E3

3 E3 E4 E3 E3 E2 E3

4 E3 E6 E4 E3 E4 E3

5 E4 E6 E5 E4 E6 E5

6 E4 E6 E6 E6 E6 E5

7 E5 E6 E6 E5 E6 E5

8 E5 E6 E6 E6 E6 E5

9 E6 E6 E6 E6 E6 E6

(a) Electric air conditioning is assumed for all heating system types (b) Use for any electric resistance heating system without ducts, and for a central electric

furnace if the ducts are totally within the conditioned part of the house.

Table 3: Total R-values for Existing Houses a

Insulation Group

Attic Floor over unconditioned

space

Wall Cavity

Crawlspace wall b

Basement wall C

Add insulated sheathing to

uninsulated wall d

Add insulated sheathing to

insulated wall d

E1 19 11 0 11 11 5 0

E2 30 11 11 11 11 5 0

E3 38 11 11 19 11 5 0

E4 38 19 11 19 11 5 0

E5 38 25 11 19 11 5 5

E6 49 25 11 25 11-13 5 5

(a) R-values have units of /F•ft2 •h/Btu. This table, when used with Tables 1 and 2, provides recommended total R-values for existing houses and was produced using the ZIP-Code computer program. The recommendations are based on an analysis of cost-effectiveness, using average local energy prices, regional average insulation costs, equipment efficiencies, climate factors, and energy savings for both the heating and cooling seasons.

(b) Use only if floor is uninsulated and the crawlspace is unventilated - see the discussion about unventilated crawlspaces in the DOE Insulation Fact Sheet.

(c) Recommendation assumes fiberglass insulation is placed in cavity behind drywall or paneling built out from wall. Alternatively, 1.5-inches of foam sheathing may be used.

(d) Recommendation assumes that the exterior siding was removed for other purposes, i.e., does not include any consideration of the cost of removing and replacing the exterior siding. The R-values shown here represent 1-inch of foam sheathing. Foam sheathing with R-values up to R-7 could be used.

Version 1.0 Page - 4 Oct. 16, 2001

º

Table 4: LBL Factor to convert ACH50 to Natural Air Changes per Hour (ACHnat)

Zone # of stories º 1 1.5 2 3

1

Well-shielded 18.6 16.7 14.9 13.0

Normal 15.5 14.0 12.4 10.9

Exposed 14.0 12.6 11.2 9.8

2

Well-shielded 22.2 20.0 17.8 15.5

Normal 18.5 16.7 14.8 13.0

Exposed 16.7 15.0 13.3 11.7

3

Well-shielded 25.8 23.2 20.6 18.1

Normal 21.5 19.4 17.2 15.1

Exposed 19.4 17.4 15.5 13.5

4

Well-shielded 29.4 26.5 23.5 20.6

Normal 24.5 22.1 19.6 17.2

Exposed 22.1 19.8 17.6 15.4

ACH50ACHnat = LBL Factor

Version 1.0 Page - 5 Oct. 16, 2001